Rainbow Exhibition 2026
LGBTIQA+ artists and curators are invited to apply for a solo or group exhibition at the Eltham Library Community Gallery.
The selected exhibition will be put forward for Midsumma Festival, Australia’s premier queer arts and cultural festival, bringing together a diverse mix of LGBTIQA+ artists, performers, communities and audiences. The program shares the lived experiences of those voices at the margins, the expression of queer history and the celebration of new ideas.
This project will receive a project fee, curatorial and marketing support, an opening celebration and be registered as a Midsumma event.
Projects will receive a $5,000 project fee.
Applications have now closed
We will notify all applicants by end of July 2025. Applications for the 2027 Rainbow Exhibition opportunity will open in March 2026.
Exhibition dates
24 January - 1 March 2026
Location
Eltham Library Community Gallery
Panther Place, Eltham
Criteria for determining successful proposals
- Quality of exhibition
- Eligible for Midsumma Festival
- Suitability to exhibit (exhibition considers the unique gallery space, and is suitable for all audiences, the gallery is located in a public space at the entrance of the Eltham Library)
- Local or connection to the Shire
- Identifies as one or more of Nillumbik's priority group demographics (First Nations Person - Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, culturally or linguistically diverse, person with disability/chronic illness/mental health, LGBTIQA+ and gender diverse, age (emerging artist aged 18-29)
Note: 25 per cent of the score is from responses to demographic questions.
Exhibition proposals will be assessed by a panel comprising of a member of the Nillumbik Shire Council Arts and Cultural Advisory Committee, a Social Planning and Equity team member, and Arts and Cultural Development team members.
Image: Ayman Kaake 'In Their Names' 2024 Midsumma exhibition. Photograph Jamie Robertson
Images of the gallery space
Image: Install photo of In their names by Ayman Kaake, Eltham Library Community Gallery, Rainbow Exhibition 2024, Photo by Jamie Robertson.
Image: Installation photo of Arena by Alun Rhys Jones, 2025 Rainbow Exhibition, Eltham Library Community Gallery, Photo by Greenlight Media.